I have always used a domed light and just sit the fixture on top of my wire lid with no problems. However, I just recently purchased a flourescent hood fixture (the type where the bulb fits horizontally instead of vertically, and it says to only use on a glass surface because of fire risk. Has anyone ever had problems occur with this, or does anyone even set the fixtures on top as I do? Thanks in advance for any help.
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question on lighting safety
justinmatthew
Jun 15, 2004 01:19 PM
Replies (3)
rjharper
Jun 15, 2004 02:35 PM
just sit it on top of the screen. fluorescent tubes emit much less heat that incandescent bulbs anyway, so they are actually safer than the basking spots to have sitting directly upon the screen. furthermore, glass absorbs UV, so if you have a UV bulb shining through the glass you might as well have a normal bulb.
before i switched to MVBs, I had the 8.0 UV strip directly on my screen. you should also bear in mind that screen tops can absorb up to 50% of UV light, and the strips are only good for 6-10" from source, so unless the basking site is close to it, your beardie may not benefit from the UV. You may want to mount the UV strip inside the tank if thats possible, but really on top of the screen is fine, thats what most of us do / have done.
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Ross
0.1 Bearded Dragon (Fuego, spent the last 10 months thinking she was a he!)
2.1 Roommates (require more cleaning up after than the dragon)
beardiedragon
Jun 15, 2004 02:40 PM
wire is fine, it's not flamable is it? even the screen tops for reptiles is safe. Where you might run into a problem would be on a tight weave plastic mesh like for patios. It could menlt. remember the tighter the screen, the less UV gets trough. also make sure there is no glass or plastic cover between the bulb and the tank (some come with a cover.
Why are you IN a movie, but you're ON TV?
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Bennett
Home Of The Florida Orange
www.beardiedragon.com
littleherper
Jun 15, 2004 06:39 PM
i put my heat lamps on top of the cage. it will be fine as long as the heat fixture isnt touching the plastic on the sides of the metal wires. i remember once i accidentally left the heat fixture slightly on the plastic... i left my room for 10 minutes and when i came back it was melted and on fire!
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sincerely,
jonathan
JDDK Reptiles www.jddkreptiles.com
